H. L. MenckenH. L. Mencken, (1880-1956) American Journalist, Editor, Essayist, Linguist, Lexicographer, and Critic

H. L. Mencken Quote

“All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it.”

H. L. MenckenH. L. Mencken
~ H. L. Mencken


Ratings and Comments


Waffler, Smith, Arkansas

It is fraudulent to say others are part of the masses but that you are not. The masses are just individuals at large whom you have not met yet. And you are a faceless member of the mass of men others have not met yet. To aver that you are not a member of the mass is a lie or fraud.

E Archer, NYC

Funny!

Me Again
  • Reply
Me Again    8/26/08

A lie is not funny. Not this one anyway.

Ken, Milford Pa.

This, flat out, is not true. There are millions of really great, honest, and nobel man, and women out there.

jim k, austin

Slightly overstated, but only slightly. Take a look at the current political races and you will find plenty of frauds. Heading the list is the Anointed One, Barack Obama.

Mike, Norwalk

Don't know exactly how to rate this, it is slightly overtated making it not true all the time but its really funny. hmmm

warren, olathe

Waffler?? What are you talking about. This quote?

RKA, Wasilla, AK

Ha Ha Ha

RobertSRQ
  • Reply
RobertSRQ    8/26/08

You came out with some fun ones today. Are you sure that wasn't Oscar Wilde? Barack please please win and take me from this abyss before it's too late.

Waffler, Smith, Arkansas

Warren yes. You may not understand the connection but I have heard some compared their own individuality juxtaposed against the mass of men. All individuals are part of the mass of men including you and I. I apologize that my ability to express myself is inadequate but the belief that the self is not part of the mass of humanity is a fraudulent position in my view. Since every individual is in possession of the self, and the self may think of itself as not part of the mass of humanity, so the world becomes 6 billion selves individually looking at the other 5.9 other billion selves and calling them the masses of which I am not a part. This is the root cause of the "Me versus they" form of thinking which I think is a fraudulent or erroneous way of thinking. Sorry that I have digressed so badly, I think I need another beer.

Judith, Albuquerque

He is talking about the "persona", that we all wear when we are out in public and not by ourselves. We all try to act and speak in the manner and about the subject that others consider to be important. It is basically a psychological term, so don't take it so personally. We learn to do this when we become adolescents and are not even aware of it.

warren, olathe

Still can not connect any thing you have written to that quote. Sorry Waffler.

warren, olathe

Me thinks Judith understands the gist of the quote.

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